Culinary Arts Faculty

Department Chair/Associate ProfessorPaul Weeden

Associate Professor Paul Weeden joined Massasoit Community College as adjunct faculty in 2001 and full time faculty in 2005. He worked throughout industry food service and hospitality operations—from chef to food service director to general manager to owner. Paul has an extensive background in catering and event planning along with restaurants and hotels.

Christine Merlo came to Massasoit Community College in 2012 after teaching three and a half years at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, MA. She also taught at Newbury College and Boston University, and has experience in catering/special events, food writing and television. She is a certified Sommelier, and is involved in a children’s program called Cooking Up Culture where area school children learn about countries and cultures through cuisine.

EducationB.S., Providence CollegeM.A., Framingham State College

Associate ProfessorJeanne Curtis

Associate Professor Jeanne Curtis joined the Culinary Arts department at Massasoit Community College in 2004. Coming from an extensive educational background, having taught baking and pastries for 20 years at Newbury College, she was happy to join her fellow chefs in this wonderful south shore community.

EducationA.S., Newbury CollegeM.Ed., Cambridge College

Associate ProfessorDonna Wright

In 1994 Chef Instructor Donna Wright graduated with honors and received an AAS degree in Culinary Arts from Newbury College, Brookline, MA. After graduating she worked at various dessert catering companies. In 1998 she opened her first wholesale/retail business supplying local restaurants, cafes, & customers with a variety of desserts and pastries. Chef Wright’s teaching career started in 2004 at her alma mater, Newbury College, where she became an adjunct instructor and operations manager for the Culinary Department.